Greece: Politic Reprieve

Desertion is not an act calculated to win
sympathy from senior officers. Neither, for that matter, is an attempt
to blow up the nation's Premier and overthrow the government by armed
rebellion. Thus when Alexandros Panaghoulis stood before Judge
Panayotis Voughas in Athens Special Military Court, it seemed hardly
surprising that the death sentence was pronounced. Greece's ruling
colonels were proud of the fact that there had been no executions under
the 19-month-old regime, but in this case there seemed ample reason for
breaking precedent.